Anu Kumari is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who secured All India Rank 2 in the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2017. She is originally from Sonipat, Haryana, and her success story is widely known among UPSC aspirants.
Many people give up their dreams after marriage or when family responsibilities increase. However, Anu Kumari proved that determination and discipline can overcome these challenges. When she started preparing seriously for UPSC, she was already married and had a young son.
Despite these responsibilities, Kumari continued her preparation with focus and dedication. Her achievement later became an inspiration for many students, especially married candidates and working professionals who dream of joining the civil services.

Anu Kumari IAS Quick Wiki
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anu Kumari |
| Profession | IAS Officer |
| Batch | 2018 |
| Cadre | Kerala |
| UPSC Rank | AIR 2 (2017) |
| Date of Birth | 18 November 1986 |
| Age | 39 Years (approx.) |
| Birthplace | Sonipat, Haryana, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Education | B.Sc (Hons) Physics, MBA |
| College | Hindu College, Delhi University |
| MBA College | IMT Nagpur |
| Optional Subject | Sociology |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Husband | Varun Dahiya |
| Children | 1 Son |
| Current Posting | District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala |
Anu Kumari IAS Age, Birthdate, And Early Life
Anu Kumari was born on 18 November 1986 in Sonipat, Haryana. As of 2026, her age is 40 years. She grew up in a simple family where education was very important.
Kumari completed her school studies in Sonipat at Shiva Shiksha Sadan School. From childhood, she was serious about her studies and always tried to do well in school.
After finishing school, Anu Kumari went to Delhi for higher education. She completed her B.Sc (Honours) in Physics from Hindu College, Delhi University. Later, she also completed an MBA in Finance and Marketing from IMT Nagpur, which helped her before she started her UPSC preparation.

Anu Kumari IAS Husband And Family
Anu Kumari is married to Varun Dahiya, who is a businessman from Delhi. The couple got married in 2012, and they have a son named Rihan Dahiya. Her family has been very supportive throughout her education and career.
When she started preparing for the civil services examination, her son was still very young. To focus on her studies, Anu Kumari stayed at her aunt’s house in Sonipat for some time. During this period, her family helped take care of her child and supported her decision to prepare for the exam.
Kumari often mentions that the support of her parents and relatives helped her stay focused during her preparation.

Anu Kumari IAS UPSC Journey and Mark Sheet
Anu Kumari decided to prepare for the UPSC Civil Services Examination after leaving her corporate job. Before starting her preparation seriously, she had already spent several years working in the private sector. Later, she focused completely on studying for the exam.
In her first attempt in 2016, she appeared for the exam with limited preparation and missed the prelims cutoff by just one mark. Instead of giving up, Anu Kumari used that experience to understand the exam pattern better and improve her strategy. If you find Anu Kumari’s journey inspiring, you will also like the story of Manoj Kumar Sharma IPS. His life became widely known after the movie “12th Fail,” which shows his struggle and how he cleared the UPSC exam.
In her second attempt in 2017, Kumari prepared with better planning, regular revision, and answer-writing practice. Her optional subject was Sociology, and she focused on current affairs along with the core subjects. That year, Anu Kumari secured All India Rank (AIR 2) in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, becoming one of the top rank holders of the year.
| Exam Stage | Marks |
|---|---|
| Essay | 142 |
| General Studies Paper 1 | 123 |
| General Studies Paper 2 | 137 |
| General Studies Paper 3 | 104 |
| General Studies Paper 4 | 111 |
| Optional Paper 1 (Sociology) | 140 |
| Optional Paper 2 (Sociology) | 154 |
| Written Total | 911 |
| Interview | 176 |
| Final Total | 1087 |

Anu Kumari IAS Current Posting
Anu Kumari is an IAS officer from the 2018 batch of the Kerala cadre. Over the years, she has worked in different administrative roles in the state and gained experience in district administration and public service.
Currently, Anu Kumari is serving as the District Collector of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. In this role, she is responsible for managing district administration, implementing government schemes, and overseeing development projects.
| Year | Position |
|---|---|
| 2018 | IAS Training at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie |
| 2019 | Assistant Collector / Sub-Collector (Kerala) |
| 2021 | Sub-Collector in Kerala (received Best Sub-Collector recognition) |
| 2022 | Mission Director, MGNREGS & Kerala State IT Mission |
| 2024 – Present | District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram |
Social Media
Anu Kumari is also active on social media, where she shares updates related to her work, public programs, and social initiatives. Through these platforms, Anu Kumari connects with people and often shares messages about education, public service, and social awareness.
Kumari is active on Instagram, where her official account is @iasanukumari. As of now, the account has around 88K+ followers, and she regularly posts about administrative work, public events, and community activities.
Her social media presence helps people understand the work of an IAS officer and also inspires many young aspirants who want to prepare for the civil services.









